Doug McIntyre
Soccer Journalist
It speaks to the worldwide respect that Mauricio Pochettino has earned over the course of his 15-year head teaching profession that his first match in command of america males’s nationwide crew — a debut Pochettino gained when the People beat Panama final weekend — was, due to his mere presence on the sideline, the must-see contest of this month’s two-friendly slate.
Tuesday’s journey to Mexico stays much more fascinating from a pure soccer perspective. It will be far and away the must-watch usually, as El Tri is the USMNT’s oldest and most hated rival.
“In fact it’ll be particular,” Pochettino mentioned at his pre-match press convention on Monday evening. “Particular for our followers and particular for Mexican followers.”
The lean at 50,000-seat Estadio Akron in Guadalajara will mark the 78th assembly between these North American neighbors, in a collection that started practically a century in the past.
El Tri has gained 36 of these encounters. However the U.S. has a posted a 21W-13L-13T report in opposition to Mexico over the past three many years, together with the one assembly at a World: the well-known 2-0 “dos a cero” victory within the spherical of 16 on the 2002 event in Korea/Japan.
Now the People head into Tuesday driving a historic seven-game unbeaten streak in opposition to Mexico. In March, the U.S. beat its chief nemesis in entrance of a sea of green-clad El Tri supporters in Arlington, Texas to win a 3rd straight Concacaf Nations League crown.
Besting Mexico south of the Rio Grande is one other matter completely, although. Only one USMNT facet has ever managed to triumph in Mexico in 28 tries all-time: Jurgen Klinsmann’s in a 2012 exhibition at iconic Azteca Stadium, the place Mexican-American defender Michael Orozco scored the storybook game-winner.
Like the present U.S. squad, Mexico additionally has a brand new supervisor in Javier Aguirre. The 65-year-old has led his nation twice earlier than – together with in 2002 – and has historical past with Pochettino; Aguirre succeeded him at Spanish membership Espanyol in 2012 when Pochettino left for Southampton of England’s Premier League. Given the lengthy winless streak and the change of management, there’s little doubt that El Tri – and their followers – can be determined to safe their first win over the guests this decade.
“I believe the environment goes to be nice,” Pochettino mentioned. “We want such a recreation. To really feel adversity. To really feel that we’re going to compete not solely with the crew that’s in entrance of us, however with the environment that we have to handle.”
They will additionally have to handle adversity earlier than the opening whistle blows.
U.S. stars Christian Pulisic and Weston McKennie have been amongst 5 gamers despatched again to their golf equipment on Sunday due to minor accidents or load administration causes, a listing that additionally contains keeper Zack Steffen, fullback Marlon Fossey and ahead Ricardo Pepi, scorer of his crew’s second objective versus Panama.
“It is just a little bit unhappy, as a result of these guys that have been right here wished to assist and play for the crew,” Pochettino mentioned. “However on the identical time, when one door is closed one other might be opened. And for certain, there would be the risk to play for different gamers. For us, it is one other recreation to be taught.”
It is also the sternest take a look at Pochettino’s U.S. will face till subsequent 12 months, no disrespect to no matter foe the People find yourself drawing for subsequent month’s Nations League quarterfinals. Not that the Argentine spends an excessive amount of time excited about his crew’s opponents.
“It is a problem to face Mexico. However crucial factor, like I advised the gamers in opposition to Panama, is to problem ourselves,” Pochettino mentioned. “It is enhancing the way in which that we need to play, the way in which that we have to evolve like a crew in our mentality, in our perspective, in our conceitedness, in the way in which we have to compete.”
Whereas a second-ever win in Mexico is the clear objective for Tuesday, the large image — specifically having a profitable 2026 World Cup on residence soil — has underpinned Pochettino and his employees’s each choice throughout his first camp on the helm of the USMNT. Enchancment, they imagine, should come from inside, one recreation at a time, no matter who’s on the opposite facet of the sphere or the place the match is being held.
“For us, we’re our worst enemy,” Pochettino mentioned. “We have to problem ourselves to be higher and higher and higher.”
Doug McIntyre is a soccer reporter for FOX Sports activities. A former employees author with ESPN and Yahoo Sports activities, he has coated U.S. males’s and girls’s nationwide groups at FIFA World Cups on 5 continents. Observe him @ByDougMcIntyre.
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